I had been assessing my finances with a view to buying a new gown when it had happened. It was the day after I had met Verity Hawksworth and the day Lina and I were to take tea with Georgina at Redcliffe Manor, which I was now looking forward to as I wished to see the manor close up. I got down on my knees and looked under the bed. I could see the elusive coin wedged in the corner between the floorboards, now what was I to do I mused, for the bed would be heavy to move but I had to retrieve the coin as I couldn’t afford to lose it. Getting to my feet I lifted the top bed head and with all my strength moved the bed toward me so I could just squeeze behind it and rescue the half crown. I got my breath back from the exertion and then pushed myself between the bed and the wall. Struggling to kneel down, my skirts hampering me, but with grim determination I found myself on my knees. The coin was hard to budge from its resting place, I pulled really hard, the coin grasped between my fingers and to my dismay as I released the half-crown the floorboard came with it and I was staring into a small gap beneath.
